98 The Profitable Culture of Vegetables. 



second week in March. Then the carrots are thinned where 

 they stand too thickly, and the south side of each cloche is 

 whitened to prevent the unimpeded rays of the sun from 

 scorching the tips of the cos leaves under the cloches. 



The first batch of cos, numbered "1" should be ready early 

 in April. When these are gone the cloches are put over those 

 numbered "2" (shown by dotted lines in the diagram) and a 

 cauliflower is set where "1" stood in the first and third rows, 

 leaving the middle row free. When those numbered " 2 " are 

 gone the cloche is put over " 3." When this last batch are 

 gone, which should be early in May, remove the cloches to the 

 sections where they are required for covering French beans, 

 tomatoes, vegetable marrows, &c. Clean up the bed and water 

 thoroughly and frequently. 



The carrots should be ready early in June and the cauliflowers 

 towards the latter part of the month, and immediately after- 

 wards the bed is lightly forked over and replanted. 



A much earlier crop of cauliflowers can be obtained if 

 a cauliflower is planted under each cloche instead of a cos 

 lettuce. Three cabbage lettuces are planted round it, and the 

 general treatment is the same as in the preceding scheme. 



Cold Beds or Cold Frames form a connecting link between 

 the hot-beds and the open-air beds, and ensure a continuous 

 succession of supplies: They are manipulated in much the 

 same way as the hot-beds and may be used for similar crops, 

 but these of course come later. Cold beds are extremely 

 useful where it is difficult to obtain sufficient manure to make 

 up many hot-beds, or where the demand for very early and 

 high-priced produce is limited. But on the whole, although 

 the gross returns are lower, the comparative net profits are 

 higher than from hot-beds, and this is a very important con- 

 sideration to those with a small working capital. 



For this work the ground should be dug and left rough in 

 the early part of the winter. On the 1st of January, or as 

 soon afterwards as the ground is clear of frost and snow, level 

 the soil, set the frames in position, and put under each light a 

 barrow-load of old hot-bed manure. Level this and cover it 

 with a little sifted compost, then put on the lights and keep 



